California voters on Tuesday struck down a proposal to ban the death penalty,
officials have said, based on a majority of votes.

Voters also rejected the chance to require food companies to label genetically-modified products.

The votes marked rare victories for conservatives on a night that saw Barack Obama handily win re-election and liberal ballot initiatives succeed in other states.

The most populous US state voted against Proposition 34 – which would have replaced the death penalty with life in prison without parole – according to figures on the California Secretary of State's website.

The website said 53.6 per cent had opposed the measure, with 46.4 per cent in favour.

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California also rejected Proposition 37 – which would have made it the first US state to require food companies to identify genetically modified (GM) ingredients – by 54 per cent to 46 per cent, the website said.

Other US states backed legalising marijuana for recreational use, allowing gay marriage and rejected a call to ban public funding for abortions, in a swathe of statewide ballots Tuesday.

The generally liberal moves were decided among more than 170 ballot initiatives and referendums held across the country.